Breaking down Friday's key football matchups

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

M.L. King vs. Southwest DeKalb

When, where: 8 p.m. Friday, Hallford Stadium, Clarkston

Records, rankings: M.L. King (8-3 in 2008) is No. 8 in Class AAAAA; Southwest DeKalb (9-4) is No. 1 in Class AAAA.

Last meeting: M.L. King won 21-12 in 2008.

Three things to watch

● M.L. King’s Mack Brown, an AJC Super 11 selection who is viewed by many as the state’s top running back, rushed for 1,700 yards and 21 touchdowns last season.

● T.J. Stripling, another Super 11 pick, leads a Southwest DeKalb defense that allowed only 8.8 points per game in 2008.

● Southwest DeKalb has not been ranked No. 1 since Sept. 12, 2000, two years before M.L. King opened.

St. Pius at Marist

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Hughes Spalding Stadium, Atlanta

Records, rankings: St. Pius (9-2 in 2008) is unranked in Class AAA; Marist (13-2) is No. 4 in Class AAAA.

Last meeting: St. Pius won 21-10 in 2008.

Three things to watch

● Junior Andy Perez will be the third member of the Perez family to start at quarterback for Marist, joining his uncles Rob and Dan.

● St. Pius’ Cole Moon rushed for 1,394 yards and 24 touchdowns last season.

● Before St. Pius’ victory last season, Marist had won 25 of 26 meetings.

Peachtree Ridge at Harrison

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Bruce Cobleigh Stadium, Kennesaw

Records, rankings: Peachtree Ridge (12-3 in 2008) is No. 3 in Class AAAAA; Harrison (9-3) is unranked in Class AAAAA.

Last meeting: Harrison won 13-3 in 2008.

Three things to watch

● Peachtree Ridge returns six starters, including four of the top five tacklers, from a unit that allowed 10 points or less in nine of the final 11 games last season.

● Lions quarterback Nick Lombardo, who passed for 1,536 yards, is Gwinnett’s second-leading returning passer.

● Harrison must replace the entire offensive line, leading rusher Robbie Godhigh and quarterback Christian Burnett.

Lovett at Woodward Academy

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Colquitt Stadium, College Park

Records, rankings: Lovett (9-4 in 2008) is No. 7 in Class AA; Woodward Academy (8-4) is unranked in Class AAA.

Last meeting: Lovett won 32-21 in 2008.

Three things to watch

● Lovett senior quarterback Jonathan Carkhuff passed for 2,178 yards and 27 touchdowns last season.

● Carkhuff will be looking for Max Williams, who had 925 yards receiving and 10 touchdowns.

● Woodward Academy returns one running back, Juwan Thompson, who rushed for 1,210 yards last year, but lost another, Delino DeShields, who transferred to Norcross.

Riverdale vs. North Clayton

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Southern Crescent Stadium, Riverdale

Records, rankings: Riverdale (5-5 in 2008) is unranked in Class AAAAA; North Clayton (10-2) is unranked in Class AAAA.

Last meeting: North Clayton won 16-0 in 2008.

Three things to watch

● North Clayton’s new quarterback is sophomore Dennis Johnson. He replaces Milton Artis, who transferred to Westlake.

● North Clayton won the Region 4-AAAA championship last year after going 5-5 in 2007.

● Riverdale suffered big graduation losses; two-thirds of its starters will be underclassmen.

Compiled by Chip Saye, Georgia High School Football Daily